World Alzheimer's Awareness Month

Every September, people from all over the world come together to raise awareness and fight the stigma that exists around Alzheimer's disease and all types of dementia.

World Alzheimer's Month and World Alzheimer's Day (celebrated on 21 September) are coordinated by the Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI), which encourages everyone from individuals to large organisations, including all Alzheimer's and dementia associations worldwide, to support World Alzheimer's Month by getting involved.

The 2024 World Alzheimer's Month campaign will focus on the slogans "Time to act against dementia. It's time to act against Alzheimer's".

The terms "dementia" and "Alzheimer's disease" are sometimes used interchangeably, but this is not correct. Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia. According to the World Health Organisation, the number of dementia cases will increase to 82 million by 2030, and to 152 million by 2050. According to the Alzheimer's Association, between 60% and 80% cases of dementia are caused by Alzheimer's disease.

Despite the fact that almost everyone has heard of Alzheimer's disease, not everyone knows what exactly it is and who can get it.

Alzheimer's disease is named after the German neurologist Alois Alzheimer, who first described the symptoms and neuropathological signs of the disease in 1906. It is a neurodegenerative disease that begins with a gradual deterioration of memory and mental abilities and can lead to a complete loss of self-care and communication skills, and thus to social maladjustment. As Alzheimer's disease progresses, brain structures are affected, leading to impaired mental functions: long-term memory, thinking and speech.

Alzheimer's disease is more common in people over 65 years of age, but some people have an early onset of Alzheimer's disease and symptoms appear as early as 45 to 65 years of age.

Changes in the brain can begin several years before the first symptoms appear. However, there are signs that it is important to pay attention to and see a doctor:

• disorientation in time and space;
• Difficulties in performing daily activities;
• Repeating the same type of questions and constantly clarifying the information already known;
• Difficulties in the process of dialogue and speech disorders (logic, consistency);
• problems in remembering the location of things;
• Problems with counting;
• sudden changes in mood and behaviour;
• loss of the ability to think rationally and make decisions;
• Difficulties in spatial orientation, colour and contrast distinction, problems with reading and driving;
• cessation of labour and social activity.

You can prevent the development or slow down the progression of the disease if you follow simple but effective rules to protect your brain:

• train your brain and develop your memory: read, learn poetry, solve crosswords and puzzles, play intellectual games;
• Exercise: moderate physical activity ensures good blood supply, adequate cell nutrition, muscle and other tissue tone;
• Communicate more: communication is an active mental activity, including concentration and memory stimulation;
• lead a healthy lifestyle and give up bad habits;
• Get enough sleep: sleep disturbances have a negative impact on memory and increase the risk of developing dementia;
• control blood pressure, reduce salt and sugar intake and maintain a healthy weight.

Remember, To slow down the development of degenerative changes, people with Alzheimer's disease need the support of their loved ones and timely treatment!

https://www.alzint.org/get-involved/world-alzheimers-month;

https://moz.gov.ua/uk/scho-potribno-znati-pro-hvorobu-alcgejmera;

https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-and-dementia/alzheimers-disease-fact-sheet;

https://mozok.ua/dementia/article/3192-hvoroba-altcgejmera-u-pitannyah-ta-vdpovdyah; https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/10_signs

Doctor of municipal hygiene

Department of epidemiological surveillance (observation)

and prevention of non-communicable diseases V. Podavalenko